Shotgun shell



l Fetented June 5, 1923.

lili

HRD ST insist? EABLE M. BRROWS, 0F MNNEAPQLIS, MINNESCTA.

SHQTG'UN SHELL.

Application le. January 20, 1919. Serial No. 272,130.

To @ZZ 'whom it may concern:

Be it known` that I, EARLE M. Barrows, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Shotgun Shells, of which the following is a specification.

The object oi my invention is to provide a shot or scatter-gun shell which has con; tained Within itself a tracer projectile or capsule, distinct or independent from its ordinary load of shot, which projectile or capsule is so designed that upon tiring it will accurately follow the center of trajectory or pattern of the multiple shot charge and leave a trail of tire, smoke or vapor in the air to indicate the path traversed by the shot charge and enable the person using the gun to correct any inaccuracy of aim.

L further object is to provide a shot or scatter gun shell which has contained. Within itself a tracer projectile or capsule, distinct from and independent ci its ordinary load, which projectile or capsule is so designed that upon tiring it will accurately follow the center of trajectory or pattern of the multiple Shot charge and at a certain predetermined range or distance from the muzzle of the gun, Will give forth a burst of nre, smoke or vapor in the air to indicate the path in which the shot charge is traveling, and so also indicate by comparison with the p oint at which the burst is discernible the range or distance of the target or object from the person using the gun enable such person to correct inaccuracy oi aim or misconception of range.

il. further object is to provide i designed 'for use for either ticle, wine* shooting purposes.

@ther objects or" the invention will appear from the following detailed d mription.

rlhe invention consists generA 'f' ons constructions end combinati hereinafter described and particularly pointed ont 'the claims.

the accompanying drawings 4Ao'rmimg or this specification,

fr .my il a c ctionai i Wad aL other modilication of the wad and projectile or capsule, showing a form of superimposed Wad,

Figure 5 is a sectional view of still another modification of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View of Figure 3 0n the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

ln the drawing, referring to Figure 1, l represents the paste-board shell-case of a standard shell. 2 represents the brass shell base, 3 the base wad, 4 'the primer, 5 the powder space and powder, 6 the shot space and shot, and 7 the shot Wad. 8 represents the powder wad, of "telt or other fibrous material, which will expand or contract in passing through the barrel of the gun. 9 represents the metal projectile or capsule. l0 is a Weight or'a lead. or other heavy metal in the projectile or capsule. 1l is the sniolre composition, preferably or gunpowder, an oxidizing magnesium, and a. binding agent suoi-' s shcilac, but any other material for accomplishing same result may be used. l2 is a fuse or slow match, preferably ci: porous paper, impregnated with saltpeter, but any other material for accomplishing the saine result muy be used. 20 is a shoulder on the projectile or capsule, designed to reduce gas leakage and giving c greater hearing against the shot charge.

Upon the discharge oie the shell through the action of the primer 4 the powder ignites, producing a large volume of gas and great heatu This resses the Wad d and the proiectile 9 fiori carrying the shot nl The resistance ot charge holds the tracer the wad. 8, the two her-rel ci" the ssure exploding he heat of the slow match the muscle s resistance o' the and shot wad i" hetero them. of inertia powder or trie sh discharge ign l2. is i shi 'full speed is a inertia becorn f in l er;

i e same time f, its bore i inertia ano. partly by uxanding powder gases., ctory of' the multiple p'ressu ifollonl` charge. a. point in the flight oi' the tracer proi d by the length and telnr-i, proue 'e composition, slow match or fuse.,

'Mill projectile and to which has been ignited by the burning powder charge, the fire therein reaches and 1gnites the smoked composition which becomes visible through a trail or burst of smoke `or fire so that the person using the gun can readily determine the direction of the discharge and by comparison with the poin-t already known at which the tracer trail or burst appears, can determine with accuracy the range of the target. In this invention I do not, however, confine myself to the use flight of the tracer projectile, or the slow match or fuse may be cut down so as to merely delay the ignition of the smoke composition, so that there will be no smoke therefrom near the muzzle of thel gun to obstruct the vision of the marksman.

In Figure 2 I have shown a modified construction of the wad'and tracer projectile in which 11a represents the space to -be filled with the smoke compound or the compound and fuse. The shoulder 20 of the metallic tracer projectile 9 is here shown recessed into the wad 8. The weight 10 in the tracer projectile of lead or other heavy metal is designed to aid in the Hight of the tracer prevent it fromtumbling. l3is a metallic cylinder attached to the wad 8 and designed to produce a more perfect bore from which the tracer projectile 9 is fired. The hollow cylinder or bore lining is provided with a shoulder la to aid in holding it in position in the wad 8.

Figure 3 shows a modification ol2 Figure 2, in which the shoulder or rim 20 on the tracer projectile is omitted. The metal bore 13 is further provided with spiral groove rifling l5 into which fit projections 16 provided on the tracer projectile. Upon discharge of the tracer projectile the grooves or riling sets the tracer projectile spinning or rotating on its longitudinal axis and tends to increase its accuracy and prevent tumbling.

InFigure lthe weight 17 is madeintegral with the tracer projectile 9a. Shoulders 18 are also provided at the base of the tracer projectile to reduce the size vof the opening into the smoke composition chamber and prevent too rapid combustion of the smoke composition. A fuse or slow match is also shown, but may be omitted. The shoulders on the cylindrical metallic bore are also omitted, the bore being held in place in the wad 8 by a suitable glue composition or by compression. There are also shown wedgeshaped wads 19 and 19, imposed above the wad proper 8 and its tracer projectile 9*. These are for the purpose of reducing gas leakage. Upon reaching the choke of the gun barrel the greater friction and resistance on the thick edges of the wad causes the thin edffes to turn outward in a hingelike manner, al vowing the tracer projectile 9a an unobstructed flight.v These wads may be superimposed on any of the designs shown, there being no change produced thereby in the mechanical operation of this invention as in the case of the plain wads. The heavier. tracer projectile drives them out of the way without seriously being deflected in its flight.

In Figure 5 have shown a modification of Figure 2, with the wad 8, the tracer projectile 9 and the shoulders 20, the weight l0, the smoke compound chamber 11a, the metallic bore 13 and shoulders 14, and it is also provided with indentations 2l cut in 'the base of the tracer projectile 9. These may be varied in shape and are designed to steady the tracer projectile in its flight in the same manner as the feathering of an arrow.

In various ways the device herein described may be modified and the parts shown may be combined and still be within the scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A device of the class described comprising a wad, a tracer projectile mounted therein and having a chamber adapted to contain a combustible composition, said rojectile having means to aid its Hight and prevent tumbling,

2. A device of the class described comprising a. jacket adapted to lit within a shot gun shell, a projectile encircled by said jacket and having a weighted end, and a chamber adapted to .contain a suitable combustible composition.

3. A device of the class described comprising a jacket adapted to fit within a shot gun shell, a projectile encircled by said jacket and having` a closed end and a Weighted portion adjacent said end, said projectile also having a chamber therein adapted to contain a combustible composition.

4. A device of the class described comi prising a wad adapted to fit a shell, a tracer projectile mounted therein and having a, chamber adapted to contain a combustible composition, and a time fuse mounted for communication with said chamber.

5. A device of the class described comprising a wad adapted to fit a shell, a tracer projectile encircled by said vWad and having a closed weighted end and a chamber adapted to contain a combustible composition, and a fuse closing the entrance to said chamber.

6. A device of the class described comprising a wad adapted to vfit a shell, a tracer projectile mounted in said wad and having a closed outer end and an open inner end, said projectile having a chamber therein adapted to ,contain a combustible material accessible through the open end of said chamber, and

a time fuse fitting within said open end and normally closing the same, said fuse communicating with said composition.

7. A device of the class described comprising a wad adapted to lit a shell and having an orifice therein, a tracer projectile fitting within said orifice and having a chamber adapted to contain a combustible composition, and means for delaying the ignition of said composition.

8. A device of the class described comprising a wad adapted to fit within a. shell, a tracer projectile mounted' in said wad and having a chamber therein adapted-to contain a combustible composition, and means mounted on the outer end of said wad and composed of sections adapted to separate from the projectile when the projectile is discharged.

9. A device of the class described comprising a Wad adapted to fit within a shell, a tracer projectile mounted in said wad and having a chamber therein adapted to contain a combustible composition, and wedgeshaped discs placed face to face on the outer end of said projectile, for the purpose specified.

10. A device of the class described comprising a wad having an orifice therein, a tracer projectile fitting in said orifice and containing a combustible composition, said projectile being mounted for separation from the wad before said projectile leaves the gun muzzle. v

11. A device of the class described comprising a wad, a tracer projectile mounted therein for separation therefrom after the wad has passed out of the shell, said projectile having a weighted forward end for directing its flight and containing a combustible composition, with means for delaying the ignition of such composition..

12. The combination with a shot gun shell, of a wad fitting therein between the space reserved for the powder charge and the space reserved for the shot charge, a tracer projectile mounted in said wad for separation therefrom, and having means for directing its flight and adapted to contain a combustible composition 13. A shot shell having a tube, a. powdercharge and a shot-charge located therein, a wad interposed between the said charges and an ignitible flight-marking body installed in the said wad in position to be ignited by the powder-charge at the explosion thereof and separable from the wad and of sufficient carry to follow the shot-charge, and mark the flight thereof.

14. A shot shell having a paper tube, a powder charge, a shot charge, a plurality of wads interposed between the said powder charge and the said shot charge, and a flightmarking pellet or bodyinstalled in the rearmost wad which is imposed directly upon the said powder charge, adapted to be ignited by the explosion of the powder charge separable from the said rearmost wad-and of sufiicient carry to follow the charge of shot.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set.

my hand this 17 day of Januar 1919.

EARLE M. BAd/flows. 

